SPELLBOUND Beneath the Surface

From the untouched sanctuary of the island’s only National Marine Park in the east to the seemingly bottomless depths of the western reef walls, no two trips to Curaçao’s underwater paradise will ever be the same.

A visit to Curaçao is an all access pass to countless opportunities to explore the island in all its charm and beauty... Just below the water line lives another breathtaking world, easily accessible and ever changing.

More than 300 individual species of fish call these Caribbean waters home. Regal French Angelfish, cloudlike schools of Blue Tang and curious flat bellied Trunk Fish roam freely through the coral. Steely eyed barracuda guard the wreckage of the Superior Producer, a cargo ship which sank just 60 meters off shore in 1977. Every fall the coral spawning draws thousands of feeder fish who gather by the thousands into moving spheres to enjoy the feast. With more than 75 unique dive sites surrounding Curaçao, half of them are accessible directly from the shore. Many shallow water reefs are bustling with activity just a few feet below the surface. This means that everyone from the novice to the seasoned scuba pro can enjoy undiscovered adventure, making it an ideal diving destination.

For the explorers not quite ready to take the full plunge, snorkeling in Curaçao is considered some of the best in the world. Nearly every beach offers a chance to wade into the action. Equipped with a mask and snorkel, visitors can explore everything from the untamed wilderness off the shores of Playa Santa Pretu to the underwater manmade Reef Balls found at Porto Marie and the Blue Room cave.

Exploring the underwater wonderland that surrounds Curaçao is an adventure everyone can enjoy together. Children as young as 10 years old can learn the basics and begin diving alongside a PADI certified instructor and preteens can become Junior Open Water divers. Over 30 knowledgeable and experienced scuba diving operators cater to individuals and groups and to every type of dive experience imaginable.

No trip to Curaçao would be complete without a journey into its second world beneath the surface. Be sure to check the island’s best dive locations to explore with your friends and family.

• Crystal turquoise water warmed to 27°C (81°F) in February to 29°C (84°F) in July.

• 3mm-5mm short wetsuit.

• Spectacular wrecks & colorful reefs

• Gently stir in an abundance of varied and vibrant marine life.

This delicious recipe results in a savoury full course meal of countless species of sea life, a large variety of magnificent dive sites and sea encounters that ensure every level of diver complete satisfaction.

Curaçao boasts over 75 dive sites that are diverse enough for visitors to experience a variety of dive adventures and bring home life-long memories. Roughly half of the island’s magnificent dive sites are accessible from shore and for those who wish to explore easy shore diving. Grab your gear, grab a buddy or instructor, and head off into wild blue yonder... In addition, shore dives allow divers to customize their diving experience with total flexibility, diving whenever they desire, going down to whatever depth their hearts desire, limited only by their airflow.

A unique Curaçao offering is the Mushroom Forest, a stunning landscaped garden filled with mushroom shaped coral structures. These shapes are the result of the coral heads having been bio-eroded at their base to narrow columns by boring clams and sponges and they make great hiding places for tiny sea creatures. Numerous species of fish and coral can be spotted here.

If you are visiting Curaçao during September or October, you can experience one of the most incredible natural events in the diving world known as “coral spawning”. This is the phenomenon during which several coral species (but also other organisms) release their gonadal secretions into the water column at the same time under the influence of environmental circumstances such as water temperature and a very special position of the moon. It’s a show not to be missed that usually begins 3 days after the full moon and goes on for approximately 5 days.

This recipe for Curaçao’s diving bliss serves just a small scrumptious bite of the tasty diversity available to divers in Curaçao.

So what are you waiting for?

Grab your gear and have a taste.

by Mark Lachovsky